Chinese FM attends int'l meetings, meets top diplomats

  Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi speaks at the UN Security Council meeting on the maintenance of international peace and security -- conflict prevention, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States, Sept. 22, 2011. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Thursday attended a series of international meetings and met with a number of top diplomats on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

At the official launch event of the Global Counterterrorism Forum held in a hotel in New York, Yang said that the counterterrorism situation is turning for the better due to joint efforts of the international community over the past decade, but the world is still confronted with an array of new challenges and problems in fighting terrorism.

"We must be mindful of the grave challenges facing the international counterterrorism efforts and get prepared for a long and arduous battle," he said.

Yang urged the international community to make greater efforts in promoting global economic recovery, maintaining international and regional stability, resolving regional disputes through peaceful means, deepening international counterterrorism cooperation and supporting the UN's central role in the global fight against terrorism.

Yang said China is committed to preventing and combating terrorism, eradicating its root cause, as well as maintaining national security and regional peace and stability.

China would like to work with other countries to promote harmony and tolerance among different races, civilizations and countries to finally realize lasting peace and safety, he added.

Addressing the International Conference on Afghanistan sponsored by the German Mission to the United Nations, Yang said that progress has been made in rebuilding peace in the Asian country, and that it still has to face such challenges as the resurgence of terrorism and slow reconstruction process. International support and assistance are still needed, he said.

Yang said as a friendly neighbor and permanent member of the UN Security Council, China supports and participates in Afghanistan's political and economic reconstruction. China will keep its commitment to Afghan peace and reconstruction process together with the international community and play a constructive role in achieving peace, stability and development of Afghanistan at an early date.

During his meeting with British Foreign Secretary William Hague at the UN headquarters, Yang said development of China-Britain relations is in both countries' long-term interests and is conducive to world peace, development and stability.

China hoped the two countries to increase mutual trust, enhance cooperation in all areas so as to promote healthy and stable bilateral ties as well as China-Europe relations, Yang said.

Hague said the two countries have seen a good development for bilateral relations. Britain is willing to enhance cooperation with China, promote bilateral ties and address world challenges.

They also exchanged views on the situation in West Asia and North Africa.

In talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Portas, Yang said the two countries have enjoyed good relations with huge potential. China is willing to work with Portugal to strengthen exchanges in all areas and at all levels, further expand trade, enhance communication and coordination in international affairs to push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level.

Portas said Portugal is willing to continue strengthening relations with China, and make use of the country's traditional links with Africa and Latin America to conduct cooperation with China in third country.

In meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, Yang said the two countries should maintain and strengthen high-level exchanges, increase political mutual trust under the principles of four political documents signed by China and Japan and consensus reached by leaders of the two countries.

China and Japan should also enhance cooperation on post-disaster reconstruction, deepen economic and trade cooperation and properly handle sensitive issues so as to advance China-Japan strategic and mutually beneficial relations for lasting and comprehensive development.

Gemba said Japan would like to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic ties between Japan and China to deepen bilateral relations, improve understanding of the two peoples and establish a strategic, mutually beneficial and win-win relationship.